Trending Skincare Ingredients You Need To Know In 2024 — Selfnamed

Similarly to beauty and fashion trends that come and go, the same thing happens in the skincare industry. In the ever-changing world of skincare and the rise of social media influence, being constantly exposed to new skincare tech and formulations, promising to be “the next big thing” can be overwhelming.

But don't worry, we're here to guide you through the 2024 skincare trends, that are hyped up by social media.

In this article, we want to highlight 15 skincare trends of 2024, selected based on their growth and global popularity across sites like Google, TikTok, and more. These are long-term global skincare trends that are likely to continue their growth throughout 2024 and well into the following few years.

Hyaluronic Acid

Known for visibly plumping the skin, Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a moisture-locking, naturally occurring humectant. It works to plump, hydrate and boost skin's radiance. It can hold up to 1,000 times its water weight, reaching into the top layer of epidermis to attract and maintain moisture. As a result, it makes the skin look plumper, while improving nutrient absorption.

Look for serums and moisturisers containing this hydrating hero for a radiant, dewy glow.

Some of the Selfnamed products containing Hyaluronic acid:

Caffeine

Since demand for ingredient transparency is on the rise, some companies are leaning into ingredients they know consumers already feel comfortable with. A great example are caffeine eye creams and serums, which are currently trending.

When it comes to eye creams and serums, caffeine isn't meant to be a stimulant. The goal of it is to take advantage of its other effects: constricting blood vessels makes eyes look less puffy.

Over the last 5 years, the search results for “caffeine eye cream” have gone up by more than 270%. Popular skincare brands, offering caffeine eye creams, claim more than 80% of consumers report their under-eye skin has improved after using the product for four weeks.

In our catalogue, you'll find only one product at the moment that has caffeine in it – the Caffeine Gel Booster. It contains 1% caffeine and helps decrease puffiness and provides freshness to a tired skin.

Niacinamide

Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B-3, and it's a powerful, yet versatile skincare ingredient. It helps reduce inflammation, control oiliness and clarify blemish-prone skin, while minimising the overall appearance of congested pores.

Over the last 5 years, the search volume for “niacinamide moisturisers” has shot up by 4,900%. Vogue has called niacinamide the “It” skincare ingredient. It's fair to say, niacinamide is by far the fastest-growing ingredient in the cosmetics industry. And, with numerous TikTok creators talking about niacinamide as the Holy Grail of skincare, we can expect its popularity to stick around for some time.

Selfnamed currently offers Niacinamide Gel Moisturiser, which is enriched with 5% niacinamide. It helps the skin retain moisture, appear smoother and reduce the look of uneven skin tone and pigmented spots.

Retinol

If at some point you have landed on the skincare side of TikTok, you may already be familiar with the hype of retinol. Accumulating more than 7.2 billion views on TikTok, retinol is a powerful vitamin A compound that promotes skin rejuvenation, boosts collagen production, and addresses skin-ageing concerns.

While retinol was discovered about 30 years ago, the recent popularity is actually thanks to alt-retinols (bio-retinols). In the past 5 years, the search volume for “bio retinol” has gone up by 288%. Considering the growing popularity of natural and organic skincare, it's safe to say that alt-retinols will be in demand for some time.

As you might already suspect, alt-retinols are more gentle formulas that are plant-based. They provide similar results to retinol but without the irritation, redness, and dryness. Common forms are bakuchiol, which we will discuss a bit later, and azelaic acid.

In Selfnamed catalogue, you can find Natural Retinol-Alternative Oil Serum, which is specially formulated to address the unique concerns of mature, uneven, dull, dry skin.

Ceramide

Ceramides are fats or lipids that are found in skin cells. They make up 30-40% of the outer skin layer. Ceramides are important for retaining the skin's moisture and preventing the entry of germs into the body. Low ceramide content can cause the skin to become dehydrated, developing dryness and irritation.

Ceramides play a significant role in protecting your skin from external pollution and toxins. To help keep your skin hydrated and healthy, you can try using ceramide moisturisers, toners, and serums.

Interest in ceramides has grown by 38% over the last year, having about 32k searches per month as of February 2024. Ceramides are mostly talked about on TikTok, although there's a clear growth in interest also on platforms like Pinterest and Instagram. Meaning, that as many influencers are introducing people to ceramides, consumers are later finding themselves on other platforms to get more educational information.

Selfnamed recently introduced the Ceramide Hydrating Night Cream, which is designed to work its magic overnight, giving you a healthy-looking skin in the morning.

Copper Peptides

Peptides are chains of amino acids that stimulate collagen production and moisture retention for firmer, smoother skin. Copper peptides are a combination of a tripeptide (GHK – naturally found in human plasma) and copper ions. As the skin ages, the copper peptide content can become depleted, so, applied topically, they play a primary role in supporting a number of key functions for maintaining optimal skin appearance.

To put it more simply – copper peptides can help soften the appearance of fine lines. Copper is also anti-inflammatory and can calm redness or acne scars, however, it's not hydrating, so it should be paired with another moisturiser.

The search volume for “copper peptides” has gone up by more than 600% since 2019. The copper peptide hashtag on TikTok has raked in over 31 million views as of January 2024, and it's safe to say, we'll be hearing more about them this year. Especially, since many fashion magazines, like Vogue, has called them “botox in a bottle”.

While Selfnamed doesn't offer a product with copper peptides, we recommend trying out our Botox-Like Peptide Serum.

It's a smoothing serum, which is crafted with Hyaluronic acid and Ginkgo extract. This serum helps diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, allowing you to enjoy a smoother, firmer, and more refined skin.

Salicylic Acid

Salicylic acid is a multipurpose chemical that targets many of the systemic causes of blemishes. It's mainly on the rise as a use for acne prevention, and since the number of adults dealing with this skin condition is growing, so are the cosmetic formulas with some adoption of Salicylic acid. This is because of its ability to exfoliate, degrease the skin, reduce inflammation, and refine the look of pores.

In 2022, the Salicylic acid market was evaluated at $417.8 million, but it's estimated to double by 2032, reaching $814.2 million. Among the key factors for the rise of this ingredient are rising consumer awareness of its benefits and growing amount of manufacturers.

In Selfnamed, you can find Salicylic acid in Acne Spot Care and the Purifying Toner. Both products are for acne-prone skin, helping to reduce redness and blemishes.

Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA)

AHAs, also known as Alpha Hydroxy Acids, are types of acids that can be either naturally occurring or synthetic, usually derived from sugary or citrus fruits. They feature in all sorts of products, like, cleansers, moisturisers, serums, toners and more. And that's mainly because they tackle a variety of skincare concerns – from pigmentation and acne to uneven texture, fine lines, and the stimulation of collagen production.

In 2021, the AHA market size exceeded $1.2 billion, and is estimated to reach $2.2 billion by 2028. This is mainly thanks to the increase of AHA usage in haircare products globally. Another factor is the growing need for improved skin moisturising and lightening products, which are causing record-high growth.

Among Selfnamed's bestselling products is AHA Peeling Concentrate, which helps remove dead skin cells and promotes skin renewal, revealing fresh and radiant skin. However, we recommend avoiding direct sun exposure after the use of it, and applying sunscreen to protect your skin.

Vitamin C

It's not a new trend, but rather a long-time favourite among skincare enthusiasts. Vitamin C continues to reign supreme as a must-have ingredient in the skincare arsenal. Renowned for its brightening and antioxidant properties, vitamin C helps to even out skin tone, fade dark spots, and protect against environmental stressors.

In 2022, in the USA alone, the vitamin C skincare market was valued at $1,437.6 million. A study found that the key consumers for vitamin C skincare products are mainly millennials and Gen Z. Nonetheless, over the last couple of years, there's also a noticeable growth in interest among the older generations.

Among one of the bestselling Selfnamed products is our Vitamin C Serum. It has a unique blend of 2% Natural Vitamin C, Ferulic Acid, and Sea-buckthorn Oil Extract.

Mushroom-Enhanced Formulas

From dinner table to beauty counter – mushrooms continue to surprise people with their natural superpowers. Recent research have found that certain mushroom species have the potential to prevent collagen breakdown, decrease inflammation, and correct hyperpigmentation.

For example, the Tremella mushroom contains ceramides, resveratrol, carotenoids, and vitamins that soothe irritation on the skin and reduce inflammation. It also contains compounds, which can reduce the formation of wrinkles. Plus, they can absorb 500 times its weight in water, making them incredibly hydrating for the skin.

Over the last 5 years, the search volume for “tremella mushroom” in skincare has gone up by more than 550%.

There are more than 14,000 kinds of mushrooms, however, in the skincare industry the most popular ones are: Chaga, Cordyceps, Reishi, Shiitake, Trametes, and Tremella. Each of them has its own unique benefits, and with the growing consumer demand for plant-based skincare products, it's no surprise that companies turn to mushrooms.

Rosemary

Another ingredient, travelling from your kitchen to your beauty shelf, is rosemary. Of course, it's all thanks to TikTok and its beauty hackers.

In general, there's a significant increase in interest about scalp care, but, once you dive deeper into it, the trends revolve around rosemary hair oils and rosemary waters. With 12.3 million views for “rosemary hair oil” on TikTok at the beginning of 2023, and a 395% increase in Google searches, this miracle cure delivers longer, stronger and thicker locks. And it's not a hoax.

Rosemary has been used as a medical plant over the centuries, but traditionally for treating different kinds of skin issues, including irritation. Still, its anti-inflammatory properties make it ideal for general hair health and scalp healing.

And speaking of scalp healing – we are happy to announce that soon we will expand Selfnamed catalogue with new products within this category. One of the products will be Scalp Oil, which will include rosemary.

Collagen

Collagen skincare products, similarly as retinol and vitamin C, have been trending for some time now. However, with more and more people talking about it and celebrities endorsing collagen beauty products and supplements, it's clear that it's not going anywhere anytime soon.

Between the ages of 25 and 30, we start to lose around 1% of collagen every year as part of the natural ageing process. Lines and wrinkles start to appear on your skin, loosing its elasticity. So, the new trendy approach is “collagen banking” – it means taking a proactive approach to stimulate the production of the protein before it declines.

In our catalogue, you can find Collagen Boost Serum and Collagen Anti-Age Night Cream. Both products are perfect additions to the anti-ageing skincare assortments. Since collagen is derived from animals, and all of our products are vegan, we use plant-based actives that help support collagen in the skin.

Bakuchiol

We already mentioned this one earlier, but due to its recent increase in popularity, we must take a deeper dive into this magical ingredient.

As a natural alternative retinol, bakuchiol has emerged as a game-changer for those with sensitive skin or retinol intolerance. Derived from the babchi plant, bakuchiol has anti-ageing properties that rival those of retinol, including improved skin texture, reduced wrinkles, and enhanced firmness of skin.

Since last year, the interest in bakuchiol has grown by 35%, putting it at a current volume of 82k searches per month, as of February 2024. As you may already suspect, the highest interest is coming from TikTok users, which seem to be responsible for the majority of latest skincare trends.

Our Natural Retinol-Alternative Oil Serum has bakuchiol and it's dermatologically tested.

Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil is an essential oil that's derived from Australian tea tree leaves. It's also familiar as melaleuca oil. Usually, tea tree oil is used for its antiseptic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory properties. It can help reduce acne, which is why we can often find it in cleansers, toners, body washes, and other treatments.

It's important to point out that tea tree oil should only be applied topically. Don't ingest it, it's poisonous if swallowed!

In 2023, the tea tree oil market size was valued at $54.45 million, and it's projected to reach $66.44 million by 2030. One of the key factors is the growing consumer need for natural products. It goes hand in hand with the increasing awareness of natural skincare health benefits.

In Selfnamed, tea tree oil can be found in the Acne Spot Care. This treatment helps to calm the skin and reduce redness around the blemish, giving you a clear and healthy-looking skin.

SPF

We, here at Selfnamed, are big fans of sunscreens and SPF. If you have been following our blog, you may already be familiar with our recent article discussing the importance of sunscreen in your daily skincare routine. If not, make sure to read it.

To give you a quick recap, sunscreen is one of the best (and probably the easiest) ways to protect your skin's appearance and health at any age. It isn't just preventing sunburns. When used regularly, it also helps decrease premature ageing and the risk of skin cancer.

When it comes to trends, SPF could be considered as an evergreen ingredient. Especially last couple of years, when more and more consumers are looking for skincare and makeup products, which already have SPF included in them. For example, over the last 2 years, we see an increased interest in SPF drops and sunscreen sticks. Experts comment that this is due to the global rise in skin cancer rates, which are prompting a proactive approach to prevent UV damage.

Furthermore, in December 2023, Vogue Scandinavia issued an article discussing skincare 2024 trends predicted by skincare specialists. They named four main things that consumers are focusing on (so, if you want to start a skincare brand, this is what you need to pay attention to as well):

It's all about the natural: “There's a new era of skincare on the horizon, where enhancing the skin's function with natural ingredients takes front and centre.”
Less is more: “If we have three great products instead of 10, we won't over-treat the skin, and that will minimise the appearance of any problems.”
Prevention is key: “Now, we are preventing the damages rather than trying to fix them after they're already there.”
The era of device treatments: skincare tools, like, at-home LED masks, face massagers, Morpheus8 aren't going anywhere. “In fact, they're bound to develop even further next year.”

The first three points actually tie up everything we have talked about so far. When looking at currently trending skincare ingredients and consumer demands, it's clear that there's a huge interest in natural ingredients which can be used in proactive care. Not all the above-mentioned are natural ingredients, like niacinamide, but we do see that overall more natural ingredients are being favoured. And people are interested in using as little skincare products as possible. So a simple three-step routine consisting of a cleanser, a concentrated serum (usually vitamin C, niacinamide or retinol) and a moisturiser containing SPF, is considered more appealing by the younger generations.

So, what should be the main takeaways from all of this?

As consumer demand for natural and environmentally friendly ingredients grows, skincare companies continue to discover new and re-discover old plant based ingredients that can do miracles for our skin and health. While TikTok and other social media influencers will create hype about all sorts of products every day, it's important to do your research and consult with specialists to make sure you choose ingredients that are best for your skin. And, most importantly, there's no need to have a shelf full of skincare products consisting of every single “miracle” ingredient. Remember – pick natural, less is more and prevention is key.

How To Start Your Own Skincare Line Using Selfnamed

Selfnamed is here to help create your own skincare line by making the process as simple and seamless as possible. As soon as you decide on your ideal customer and product range, there are only a few simple steps to take:

Select product sample sets. You can choose from more than 30 high-quality, organic or natural certified skincare products made in Northern Europe.
Add your style. Selfnamed offers an easy-to-use design studio to create labels and packaging. You can work with pre-made print-ready templates or create your design from scratch. You can also choose our design service.
Start selling your products. There are no minimum orders, meaning you can easily adjust the volume to your needs.

Before making a custom order, we recommend looking at our sample set selection. These sets contain curated product lines for different skin types, letting you choose the best products for your brand. This way you can test the products — their consistencies, textures, fragrances, as well as packaging quality.

There are the basic steps on how to start a skincare line from the comfort of your home. Best of luck with your new endeavour!

Trending Skincare Ingredients To Know In 2024